Ainge: No Garnett deal yet

Boston Celtics executive Danny Ainge refuted a report Monday afternoon that his team had reached an agreement in principal to acquire Timberwolves all-star Kevin Garnett.

The Associated Press, citing an unnamed Boston official, reported that the Celtics who could be traded to the Wolves are Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green and Theo Ratliff in addition to at least one future draft pick. But Ainge said no deal is in place.

"They can speculate all they want," Ainge told the Pioneer Press.

The Boston Globe also cited an unnamed Celtics official in reporting that a deal was in place. The Wolves would receive Jefferson, Green, Ratliff, Telfair, Ryan Gomes and two future first-round picks, according to the Globe.

The trade might not be officially announced tonight because of the number of contracts involved and some necessary reworking of Garnett's contract, the Globe reported.

Ainge did say earlier in the day that he is pursuing Garnett. And Garnett is more open to a trade than he's been in the past, his agent said.

Ainge declined to discuss details of the talks, including which Celtics players might be involved in a trade for Garnett or how close the Celtics and Wolves might be to completing a deal. But the teams were reportedly close to a deal in June that would have included Jefferson, the rising young forward, and Celtics veteran Ratliff, who has a salary-cap friendly contract that could make the trade work under the NBA's rules.

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"I'm sure we're one of a few teams that are in discussions with the Timberwolves," said Ainge, Boston's executive director of basketball operations.

Andy Miller, Garnett's agent, said the face of the Wolves franchise is aware of the trade talks.

"I think that he's more open to opportunities in general than he was the first time he heard his name being mentioned in a trade," Miller told the Pioneer Press. "At this point, he's looking at it from a different perspective."

The trade talks that swirled the last two months helped Garnett realize that a deal was possible, Miller said.

"Everything that had gone on in the past probably was an awakening for him," Miller said. "He's fiercely loyal, as I've said before. He loves the team and the organization and the state of Minnesota and the fans. But I think everything that happened over the last two months probably was more of an awakening that Minnesota is looking to move in a different direction and it's time for him to look at his options, as well."

Last month, with trade rumors flying, Miller reportedly said that Garnett wouldn't be interested in playing for the Celtics. But that was before the Celtics acquired Ray Allen in a trade from the Seattle SuperSonics.

With Allen added to a roster that already includes Paul Pierce, the addition of Garnett could push the Celtics into the NBA Finals in a wide-open Eastern Conference. The Celtics would have three future hall of famers and perhaps the best trio in the NBA.

Garnett's consent could be essential to any trade because he can opt out of his contract next summer. That gives him considerable power in deciding where he might land. A potential trade partner might not want to make a deal unless it had assurances from Garnett that he wouldn't opt out.

Garnett has two years remaining on his contract, and if he opted out next summer, he would leave $23 million on the table.

But with the Wolves having missed the playoffs the last three seasons, Garnett might have reason to consider joining a new team as his best option to win his first championship.

Miller and Garnett are paying close attention to Minnesota's talks with the Celtics.

Said Miller: "We're in the midst of sorting through things as we speak."

A Wolves spokesman said Kevin McHale, Wolves vice president of basketball operations, had no comment. Messages left for Wolves owner Glen Taylor weren't immediately returned.

Taylor had recently said it was unlikely Garnett would be traded, but left open the possibility.

Garnett is the highest paid player in the NBA. He is set to make $22 million next season, which makes trading him challenging. And he has a 15-percent trade kicker that could complicate matters.